 "Champions Trophy 2025: Why Team India won't play warm-up matches before tournament")
Team India will head to the Champions Trophy 2025 on the back of a 3-0 ODI series win over England at home. The Men in Blue defeated the visitors by four wickets in the first two ODIs in Nagpur and Cuttack, before clinching a dominant 142-run win in the third ODI in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
The series win will definitely come as a morale-booster for the Men in Blue ahead of the Champions Trophy that begins from 19 February . The eight-team tournament will be held in a hybrid model, with Pakistan and Dubai hosting the matches.
India, who begin their campaign against Bangladesh on 20 February , will play all their matches in Dubai. Unlike a few teams, however, Rohit Sharma and Co won’t be playing any warm-up games before the Champions Trophy.
Why India won’t play any Champions Trophy warm-up matches
According to a report by news agency PTI, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided against having any warm-up matches for the Men in Blue given that their three-match ODI series against England was over only on Wednesday (12 February). The report adds that Team India will reach Dubai on Saturday (15 February), five days before their campaign opener against Bangladesh. India will then take on Pakistan (23 February) and New Zealand (2 March) in their remaining matches of the Champions Trophy group stage.
The Champions Trophy warm-up matches will feature New Zealand, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan Shaheens. New Zealand and South Africa are already in Pakistan, competing in the tri-series tournament which also features the hosts. Pakistan Shaheens have named three different squads for the warm-up matches.
While Shadab Khan will lead Pakistan Shaheens against Afghanistan on 14 February, Mohammad Hurraira will lead the Shaheens against South Africa in Karachi on 17 February. On the same day, another Shaheens team led by Mohammad Harris take on Bangladesh in Dubai.
Champions Trophy 2025 warm-up matches schedule
14 February
Pakistan Shaheens vs Afghanistan at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
16 February
New Zealand vs Afghanistan at National Stadium, Karachi
17 February
Pakistan Shaheens vs South Africa at National Stadium, Karachi
Pakistan Shaheens vs Bangladesh at ICC Cricket Academy, Dubai
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